Sonnalli Seygall on training for ‘Anamika’

There are a lot of running, fight and shooting sequences in the upcoming series, says the actor who plays a trained assassi

Sonnalli Seygall is currently shooting for Vikram Bhatt’s upcoming web show, Anamika, which also features Sunny Leone. Sonnalli plays a trained assassin in the series. The show is special for the actor because this is the first project where she’ll be seen doing action sequences.

Talking about the prep for the role and the new techniques she acquired, Sonnalli says, “I play Rhea, a trained assassin, who has got a killer instinct. She is extremely sharp and intelligent. There are a lot of running, fight and shooting sequences in the series. So I went through a gun training, where I learnt how to hold a gun and use it. I had basic fitness training for the show. Also, coincidently, I was travelling down south before the show and wanted to learn a martial arts form, so I learnt Kalaripayattu. That definitely came in handy during the shoot because any martial arts form gives you the right posture and body language.”

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Talking more about the action sequences, she adds, “For the fight sequences, we had trainers on the set and before any scene, there was a proper rehearsal with all the gear. Sunny and I rehearsed it over and over again. The training would happen under full professional guidance and supervision. Since I also do MMA and Calisthenics with my trainer Saurav Rathore, which involves a lot of jumps, body rolls and body training, that also came in handy while shooting for my part.”

The actor trained for about two hours every day, which included basic body weight training. “It helps me at the shoot. I also do a lot of cardio. On the set, I workout for 30 minutes for prep before every action sequence,” says Sonnalli, who doesn’t believe in being size zero but likes to stay fit.

“Even during the lockdown, I made sure that I worked out and stayed fit. But I’m not somebody who’s very stringent about being a certain body type, because for me, all sizes are beautiful. I had put on a bit of weight because I eat everything, but I workout. For this role, I had to look leaner because as an assassin you can’t be on the heavier side. I had to be lean and agile,” says Sonnalli.